Edward Lear

Poet / Humorist

Born: 12 May 1812

Died: 29 January 1888

Birthplace: London, England

Best known as: The author of The Owl and the Pussycat

Edward Lear was a highly-regarded nature and landscape artist, but he is much better remembered for the whimsical nonsense poetry and limericks he produced throughout his life. Among his best-known works are The Owl and the Pussycat, The Dong With a Luminous Nose, and The Jumblies.

Extra credit: Lear once gave drawing lessons to Queen Victoria... He is sometimes compared with his fellow nonsense author Lewis Carroll... Lear's former home in London is now the Edward Lear Hotel.